Sorting pressure filter apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sorting pressure filter apparatus has a vertical tubular wall forming an inner space and an outer annular space provided with inlet means and outlet means, respectively, and connected by several superimposed annular rows of tubular filters surrounding the tubular wall. The filters project radially from the tubular wall into the outer annular chamber. Each filter is provided with a motor and blades driven by the motor and cleaning the respective filter. In one embodiment, radial walls divide the housing so that pairs of inner and outer space portions are formed, which can be connected in series for consecutive filter operations.

United States Patent 11 1 Holz [ SORTING PRESSURE FILTER APPARATUS [75]Inventor: Emil Holz, Eningen, Germany [73] Assignee: Hermann FinckhMetalltuch-Und Maschivenfabrik, Reutlingen, Germany [22] Filed: June 9,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 151,288

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data 5/1906 Dion ..210/334 9/1939Andrews ..210/333 Primary Examiner-Frank A. Spear, Jr. AnorneyMichael S.Striker [57] ABSTRACT A sorting pressure filter apparatus has a verticaltubular wall forming an inner space and an outer annular space providedwith inlet means and outlet means, respec- June 11 1970 Germany P 20 28694.6 tively and connected by several superimpmed annular rows oftubular filters surrounding the tubular wall. The 52 us. c1. 210/333,210/345 filters Pmiect radially from the tubular the 511 Int. Cl BOld29/38 Ouler annular chamber- Each filler is Provided with a 58 Field ofSearch 210/332, 333, 334, and blades drive" by the and cleaning the210/345 respective filter. In one embodiment, radial walls divide thehousing so that pairs of inner and outer space por- [56] ReferencesCited tions are formed, which can be connected in series for UNITEDSTATES PATENTS consecutive filter operations.

519,275 5/1894 Sellenscheidt et a1. 210/345 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures2A A J 2: 23 J i 15 20 B 20 15 SORTING PRESSURE FILTER APPARATUSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pressure filter apparatus is known in whichtubular filters in upright position surround an inner inlet space, andare connected by the same by short radial tubes. The arrangementrequires a great deal of horizontal space. The effective total filtersurface can only be increased by providing annular filter rows ofgreater diameter. In accordance with the prior art, a centrally locatedblade rotor is common for all filters and consequently requires a greatdeal of space and substantial power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to overcomethe disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a filter apparatusrequiring a small horizontal area for a comparatively great filtersurface.

With these objects in view, the present invention provides preferablytubular screening filters arranged in a star-shaped pattern in anannular row. Each filter is provided with an individual motor fordriving cleaning blades running around the inner or outer surfaces ofthe respective filter. In such an arrangement, the number of thefilters, and thereby the entire effective filter surface can beincreased, without increase of the diameter of the apparatus, byproviding a plurality of superimposed annular rows of radiallyprojecting filters. Irrespective of the number of annular rows offilters, the diameter and the horizontal space requirements of theapparatus are not changed, but only the height is increased. Due to thefact that for each filter, an individual motor and cleaning blade meansis provided, a central large blade rotor according to the prior art canbe avoided, which results in smaller power requirements for the samefilter and sorting effect.

A sorting pressure filter apparatus according to one embodiment of theinvention, comprises housing means having wall means forming an annularouter space and an inner space surrounded by the outer space; and atleast one annular row of filter means located in the outer spaceoutwardly projecting from the inner space.

Each filter means has an inner chamber communicating with the innerspace. One of the spaces is an inlet space, and the other space is anoutlet space.

Inlet means are connected with the inlet space for supplying into thesame a medium including fluid and solid matters suspended in the same,so that screened fluid passes through the filter means into the outletspace, while solid matter is at least partly retained by the filtermeans in the inlet space. Outlet means are connected with the outletchamber for discharging the screened fluid, and other outlet means maybe provided for discharging from the inlet chamber the filter retainedsorted solid matter.

Preferably, the housing wall means includes a tubular wall having avertical axis, and a plurality of annular rows of filter means arespaced in axial direction along the tubular wall. The filter means aretubular and project in radial direction into the outer annular space. Amotor is mounted at the outer end of each filter means and drives blademeans which clean the surface of the filter means, preferably the innercylindrical surface.

In one embodiment of the invention, the housing means has a plurality ofradial walls extending through the inner space and the outer space sothat these spaces are divided into pairs of inner space portions andouter space portions. Conduit means connect the outlet of at least oneoutlet space portion with the inlet of an inlet space portion of anotherpair so that the medium flows successively through two filter means forsuccessive sorting of the solid matter. It is also possible to supplythe solid matter sorted by one filter to another filter for additionalfiltering and sorting of the solid matter.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a vertical axial sectionalview taken along line l1 in FIG. 2, and illustrating a first embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view illustrating a secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view illustrating a thirdembodiment of the invention provided with radial walls;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 illustratingconnecting pipes for effecting successive filtering and sorting byseveral filters; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a modified embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing,and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a substantially cylindrical housing11 has an upper end closed by a cover 23 which has an inlet means 16with a tubular means 24 arranged above an annular opening 25 in cover23. The interior of housing 11, which has a vertical axis 12, is dividedby an annular wall 19 into an outer inlet space 20 for the unfilteredmedium supplied by inlet means 16, and an inner annular outlet space 21for the fluid from which suspended solid matter has been removed byscreening filters 13. The annular opening 25 in cover 23 is disposed sothat the suspension entering through tubular means 24 enters the outerannular space 20, which is traversed by a plurality of tubular filters13. The tubular filters 13 are arranged in three superimposed annularrows of filters 13 which radially project from the tubular wall 19 intothe outer annular space 20.

Rotary blade means 14 are located in each tubular filter 13, and eachblade means 14 is driven by an individual motor 15 to move along thecylindrical inner surface of the respective filter 13. Motors 15 aresecured to the outer annular wall of housing 11.

During a filtering operation, a medium, including a fluid and solidmatter in suspension, enters in horizontal direction, as indicated byarrows A, into the inlet means 16 and is guided by the tubular means 24through the annular opening 25 in the vertical downward direction ofarrows B into the outer annular inlet space 20. The medium flows throughthe screening openings in the tubular filters 13 from the outside of thesame to the inner chamber within each filter 13,

where the cleaning blades 14, driven by the drive motor 15, move alongthe inner surface of the respective filter, so that screened and sortedmatter flows with the fluid in the direction of the arrows C into theinner outlet space 21 and toward the bottom of the same where an outletmeans 17 for screened fluid is provided. The solid matter retained bythe filters, and loosened by the blade means 14 which may also bearranged on the outer surface of the filters, accumulates in a channel26 from which the solid matter can be discharged through a second outletmeans 18, as shown in FIG. 2.

1n the embodiment of FIG. 3, parts corresponding to the parts of theembodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, are indicated by corresponding referencenumerals which are increased by 100.

While in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer annular chamber 20is the inlet chamber and the inner chamber 21 is the outlet chamber, inthe embodiment of FIG. 3, the inlet means 116 for the medium is locatedat the center of the bottom of the housing 111, and the unfilteredmedium enters the inner inlet space 120 which is surrounded by theannular outlet space 121 in which the tubular filters 113 are located.Blades 114 are located in the inner chamber of the tubular filters l3,and are rotated by motors 115. A cleaning of the filters 113 can beobtained by back rinsing.

The suspension, or other medium to be filtered, enters through the inletmeans 116 in vertical upward flow. In the region of the several annularrows of tubular filters 113, the fluid is deflected in direction of thearrow D, and flows through the openings in the tubular filters 13 intothe outer annular outlet space 121 where the clean fluid flows downwardand out of outlet means 117 in the bottom wall of the housing.

The filtered solid matter flows into an annular outer space 129 formedby tubular walls 128, and is discharged through a second outlet means118 in radial direction.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, it is immaterial whether the filteropenings in filters 13 are slots, or round holes. It is also immaterialwhether the cleaning blades 14 and 114 run around the filter surfacewhere the medium enters, or the filter surface where the medium leavesthe filter.

The embodiment of FIG. 4 corresponds substantially to the embodiment ofFIG. 3, and corresponding parts are indicated by reference numerals towhich 200 has been added. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, four radialwalls, or two diametral walls 222 are provided which divide the interiorof housing 211 into four parts. The four sector-shaped parts areconnected in series, as will be explained in greater detail withreference to FIG. 5, so that a successive sorting by successive filtersis possible in which the width of the screening openings of successivefilters is reduced for every filter. However, it is also possible toconnect only the first three sector shaped parts in series, and to usethefourth sectorshaped part for a final sorting which requires that thesecond outlets 218 of the three first sections are connected with theinlet 216 of the fourth sector, so that the solid matter is filtered andsorted a second time.

As shown in FIG. 4, each of the sectors formed by two radial walls 22,has an inner inlet space portion provided with an inlet 216, and anoutlet space portion which is part of the outer annular outlet space221.

Four inlets 216, four outlets 217 for clean fluid, and four secondoutlets 218 for solid matter are provided.

The inner inlet space 220 is divided by walls 222 into four inlet spaceportions, and the annular outer outlet space 221 for screened fluid isdivided into four outlet space portions, in each of which two filters213 of each annular superimposed row of filters 213 are located.

Referring now to FIG. 5, which is substantially a plan view of theembodiment of FIG. 4, the radial walls 222 are used in this arrangement,together with connecting conduit means 231, 232, 233, to obtain fourSorting and filtering stages I-IV. A pressure pump 230 pumps the mediumthrough a tubular conduit 245 into the inlet 216-I of stage I. Themedium flows through the respective inner inlet space portion, therespective filter 213, see FIG. 4, and the respective outlet portion ofthe outer space 221 and out of outlet 217-1. The partly filtered mediumflows through the connecting pipe 231 into the inlet 216-II of thesecond stage II and after filtering out of outlet 217-II and connectingpipe 233 to the inlet 216-III of the third stage III where the medium isagain filtered and then flows out of outlet 217-III. The fluid flowsfrom there to the connecting pipe 233 to the inlet 216-IV of the fourthstage IV, and out of outlet 217-IV into the outlet pipe 234 from wherethe filtered fluid is discharged.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, whose inner construction corresponds to theembodiment of FIG. 3, radial walls 222! are not spaced as in thearrangement shown in FIG. 5, but form one 90 sector V, one sector VI,and two 45 sectors VII and VIII. Sectors V and VI form two stages whichare connected in series, as will be explained hereinafter, while sectorsVII, VIII form two stages for final sorting of the solid matter.

A pressure pump 235 pumps the suspension to be filtered and sortedthrough the conduit 236 to the inlet 216-V of sector V in which thefirst filter stage of the apparatus carries out a rough main sorting.The filter 213 of stage V may have screening openings having a diameterof 2 mm. The filtered medium passes through outlet 217-V of stage V anda connecting tube 237 into the inlet 216-VI of stage VI in which filters213 effect a fine sorting by means of filter openings having a diameterof 0.4 mm. The filtered medium flows out of outlet 217-VI into aconnecting tube 238 from where the fluid is discharged.

The final sorting of the solid matter separated in sectors V and VI, andflowing out of second outlets 2l8-V and 218-Vl, is supplied throughoutlet 218-V, connecting pipe 239, and inlet 216-VII into the sectorVII. The final sorting of this filtered solid matter can be obtained byfilters having filter openings with a diameter of 1.8 mm. The sortedmedium flows out of outlet 217-VII of sector VII and a connecting tube240 into the tube 237, and together with the fluid filtered in the firstsector I into the second II where it is subjected to fine sorting. Thesolid matter of sector VII leaves through the solid matter outlet218-VII. The solid matter separated in sector VI, which forms the secondstage of the main sorting, flows through the solid matter outlet 2l8-VI,a connecting tube 242, and the inlet 216-VII into sector VII where afilter 213 with filter openings of 0.3 mm is provided. The suspensionsorted in sector VIII flows out of outlet 217-VIII and the connectingtube 243 to the tube 238 where it flows, together with the suspensionsorted in sector V out of the apparatus. A solid matter outlet 218-VIIIdischarges the solid matter separated during the final sorting in sectorVIII.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types offilter apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in afilter apparatus having a plurality of superimposed annular rows ofradially projecting tubular filters, it is not intended to be limited tothe details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting features thatfrom the standpoint of prior art fairly constitute essential features ofthe generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, suchadaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within themeaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Sorting pressure filter apparatus comprising housing means havingwall means forming an annular outer space, and an inner space surroundedby said outer space; at least one annular row of perforated filter meanslocated in said outer space outwardly projecting from said inner space,each filter means having an inner chamber communicating with said innerspace, one of said spaces being an inlet space, and the other spacebeing an outlet space; inlet means connected with said inlet space forsupplying into the same a medium including a fluid and solid mattersuspended in the same so that filtered fluid passes through said filtermeans into said outlet space, while solid matter is at least partlyretained by said filter means in said inlet space; outlet meansconnected with said outlet chamber for discharging said filtered fluid;a motor mounted at the outer end of each filter means; and a blade meanslocated adjacent a surface of each filter means, and being driven by therespective motor to clean said surface.

2. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said housing wallmeans includes a substantially tubular wall having a vertical axis;wherein said filter means of said annular row are tubular and projectoutward in radial directions from said tubular wall; and wherein theinner ends of said tubular filter means are open and form openings insaid tubular wall through which said inner chambers of said filter meanscommunicate with said inner space.

3. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a plurality of saidannular rows of filter means spaced in axial direction along saidtubular wall.

4. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each filter means istubular and has a cylindrical surface; and wherein each blade meansincludes blade means moving around the respective cylindrical surface.

5. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a plurality of saidannular rows of filter means having a common vertical axis and beinglocated in horizontal planes.

6. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner space issaid inlet space, and said outer annular space is said outlet space;wherein said housing means has an outer annular wall forming a secondannular space surrounding said outer annular outlet space; wherein saidfilter means are tubular and have inner open ends communicating withsaid inner inlet space, and outer open ends communicating with saidsecond annular space for discharging filtered solid matter.

7. Sorting pressure filter apparatus comprising housing means havingwall means forming an annular outer space, and an inner space surroundedby said outer space; at least one annular row of filter means located insaid outer space outwardly projecting from said inner space, each filtermeans having an inner chamber communicating with said inner space, oneof said spaces being an inlet space, and the other space being an outletspace; inlet means connected with said inlet space for supplying intothe same a medium including a fluid and solid matter suspended in thesame so that filtered fluid passes through said filter means into saidoutlet space, while solid matter is at least partly retained by saidfilter means in said inlet space; and outlet means connected with saidoutlet chamber for discharging said filtered fluid, said housing meanshaving a plurality of radial walls, each radial wall extending throughsaid inner space and said outer space so that the same are divided intopairs of inner-space portions and outer-space portions, one of which isan inlet space portion and the other is an outlet space portion; saidinlet means including an inlet for each inlet space portion, and saidoutlet means including an outlet for each outlet space portion.

8. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising conduit meansoutside of said housing connecting said outlet of at least one of saidoutlet space portions of a pair of inlet and outlet space portions withsaid inlet of one of said inlet space portions of another pair so thatsaid medium flows successively through the two filter means associatedwith the respective two pairs for successive sorting of said solidmatter.

9. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a plurality ofsecond outlets connected with said inlet space portions, respectively,for discharging solid matter retained by said filter means; and whereinat least one second outlet associated with the filter means of one ofsaid pairs of inlet and outlet space portions is connected with saidinlet of another pair of inlet and outlet space portions so that thesolid matter retained by said filter means is again filtered and sorted.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CURRECTION Patent No.3,7lr3,099 Dated uly 3, 973

Inventor(s) Emil H012,

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet, in the heading, itemL'ZBj "Hermann FinckhMetalltlich-Und Maschivenfabrik" should read Hermann FinckhMetalltuoh-Und Maschinenfabrilc Signed and sealed this luth da of May197b,.

(SEAL) Atte st:

EDWARD PLFLETCHERJR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents FORM po'wso USCOMM-DC scan-Pea ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OI'IICII", 0-88-334.

1. Sorting pressure filter apparatus comprising housing means havingwall means forming an annular outer space, and an inner space surroundedby said outer space; at least one annular row of perforated filter meanslocated in said outer space outwardly projecting from said inner space,each filter means having an inner chamber communicating with said innerspace, one of said spaces being an inlet space, and the other spacebeing an outlet space; inlet means connected with said inlet space forsupplying into the same a medium including a fluid and solid mattersuspended in the same so that filtered fluid passes through said filtermeans into said outlet space, while solid matter is at least partlyretained by said filter means in said inlet space; outlet meansconnected with said outlet chamber for discharging said filtered fluid;a motor mounted at the outer end of each filter means; and a blade meanslocated adjacent a surface of each filter means, and being driven by therespective motor to clean said surface.
 2. Filter apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said housing wall means includes a substantiallytubular wall having a vertical axis; wherein said filter means of saidannular row are tubular and project outward in radial directions fromsaid tubular wall; and wherein the inner ends of said tubular filtermeans are open and form openings in said tubular wall through which saidinner chambers of said filter means communicate with said inner space.3. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 2 comprising a plurality of saidannular rows of filter means spaced in axial direction along saidtubular wall.
 4. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein eachfilter means is tubular and has a cylindrical surface; and wherein eachblade means includes blade means moving around the respectivecylindrical surface.
 5. Filter apparatus as claimed in claim 1comprising a plurality of said annular rows of filter means having acommon vertical axis and being located in horizontal planes.
 6. Filterapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner space is said inletspace, and said outer annular space is said outlet space; wherein saidhousing means has an outer annular wall forming a second annular spacesurrounding said outer annular outlet space; wherein said filter meansare tubular and have inner open ends communicating with said inner inletspace, and outer open ends communicating with said second annular spacefor discharging filtered solid matter.
 7. Sorting pressure filterapparatus comprising housing means having wall means forming an annularouter space, and an inner space surrounded by said outer space; at leastone annular row of filter means located in said outer space outwardlyprojecting from said inner space, each filter means having an innerchamber communicating with said inner space, one of said spaces being aninlet space, and the other space being an outlet space; inlet meansconnected with said inlet space for supplying into the same a mediumincluding a fluid and solid matter suspended in the same so thatfiltered fluid passes through said filter means into said outlet space,while solid matter is at least partly retained by said filter means insaid inlet space; and outlet means connected with said outlet chamberfor discharging said filtered fluid, said housing means having aplurality of radial walls, each radial wall extending through said innerspace and said outer space so that the same are divided into pairs ofinner-space portions and outer-space portions, one of which is an inletspace portion and the other is an outlet space portion; said inlet meansincluding an inlet for each inlet space portion, and said outlet meansincluding an outlet for each outlet space portion.
 8. Filter apparatusas claimed in claim 7 comprising conduit means outside of said housingconnecting said outlet of at least one of said outlet space portions ofa pair of inlet and outlet space portions with said inlet of one of saidinlet space portions of another pair so that said medium flowssuccessively through the two filter means associated with the respectivetwo pairs for successive sorting of said solid matter.
 9. Filterapparatus as claimed in claim 7 comprising a plurality of second outletsconnected with said inlet space portions, respectively, for dischargingsolid matter retained by said filter means; and wherein at least onesecond outlet associated with the filter means of one of said pairs ofinlet and outlet space portions is connected with said inlet of anotherpair of inlet and outlet space portions so that the solid matterretained by said filter means is again filtered and sorted.